A Gothic Metal band from Czechina. December 6th, 2020, the band independently released their debut EP album Reaching For Darkness. It would gratify fans of Black Sabbath, Paradise Lost, Lacuna Coil, and The Cure. The album was promoted through GlobMetal Promotion.
Introduction:
Honoris Causa, Reaching For Darkness: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Reaching For Darkness
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Honoris Causa and their album, Reaching For Darkness.
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Features chromatic progressions of raunchy/distorted guitar playing mixed with clean, dark, and melancholy melodic/harmonies chords, back with keyboards/synths/acoustic pickings. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Involves female operatic and soprano vocals and deep, harsh male vocals. The Third Sin—The Percussions: Delves into the vast world of epic (mixed tempos) drumming and floor beats.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion: A Music that’s both beautiful and haunting
As soon as the play button is pressed, one is welcome to the opening title track, City With No Heart. This track welcomes the listener to the sound of rain, the ringing of church bells, and someone entering a building of some sort. The song then breaks into a sound of epic choir vocal style, one-beat of the drums, before breaking off with some edgy guitar/drum playing and melody/soft sections. While the remainder of the song is finishing off, there is so much darkness and energy within the opening track.
The remaining five tracks give the listener more than just Gothic metal. Still, an emphasis on melancholy and darkness surrounded by a haunting dreamlike atmosphere of great songwriting, concept, and devilmanship while capturing this soul essence of Paradise Lost, Lacuna Coil, The Cure, tint of H.I.M., and many more.
Topped off with extraordinary deliverance (build-up within the songs) of creativity of (also) capturing a clean, crisp sound/production, the dark romanticism of Gothic rock, excellent experience of fantastic stylish (catchy) guitar/chord playing, sorrowful keys/clean riffs and melodic sections, various tempos and darkly moods.
“Music that’s both Beautiful and Haunting” While listening to this album, there are some moments within the songs/music (to me) as this Siouxsie and the Banshees, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath vibe, (especially ‘The Crow’ film feel (rooftop guitar solo scene)) running through the music. This is what gives the album this fruit of art epic atmosphere of gloom and doom, sorrow, romanticism, loneliness, epic and beautiful well-written album from start to finish.
The album comes to an end with the last song, Falling (Lacuna Coil Cover). Truly captures the essence of the album. The sorrowful and melancholic ending makes it a perfect ending to an emotional and captivating album. We want to give a shoutout to GlobMetal for letting us review Honoris Causa and their album, Reaching For Darkness. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
You’re Listening to “Grim Reaper”
PlayThe Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins, our thoughts on Honoris Causa and their album, Reaching For Darkness.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia: Is that for us, everything from the sound to the dark atmosphere. Including the guitar work and Lucia’s beautiful voice/singing.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
Draws back to the old-school days.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Honoris Causa, and their album Reaching For Darkness.
This concludes the Honoris Causa, Reaching For Darkness review.
Track-Listing:
- City with no Hearts
- The One
- Wine and Silence
- Stone Bed
- Grim Reaper
- Falling (Lacuna Coil Cover)
Honoris Causa is:
- Carlo “Ariakas” Migliavacca – bass
- Lucia “Lucyanna” Leškovská – vocals
- Jesse Valle – guitars
